Reasi/Jammu, Police arrested three more people in connection with alleged vandalism at a place of worship in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, where normal life was affected by a lockdown as local residents protested against the incident, authorities said.
The place of worship was found vandalized by a visitor in a village in Dharmari area on Saturday night, sparking tension and protests.
The police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the law and formed a special investigation team headed by a deputy superintendent of police to identify and arrest the culprits.
While 12 people were detained as of Sunday, three more suspects were detained on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The total number of people detained for questioning in the case stands at 15, a police officer said.
He said the SIT is working on various leads to solve the case and requesting people to maintain law and order.
In response to a bandh call by a local group, a lockdown was observed in Reasi town and adjoining areas on Monday with groups of youths burning tires on different roads.
A large number of agitated people also gathered at the city's Zanana Park and marched towards the nearby Thapa Chowk, demanding stern action against the culprits.
Officials said police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the sensitive areas as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Reasi Vishesh Deputy Commissioner Paul Mahajan visited the protest site and tried to pacify the protesters, assuring that stern action would be taken against the culprits.
"Whoever tries to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere will not be spared. It is an attempt to create obstacles and sabotage developmental activities as well as communal harmony.
"This is my assurance... We will not tolerate any attempt to harm peace in the district," the deputy commissioner had said.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma, reiterated her appeal to the people to maintain calm and communal harmony, assuring that the police were committed to cracking the case and tracing the culprits at the earliest.
"Those involved in the case will be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), while the district administration has decided to prepare a list of all temples for installation of CCTV cameras to serve as a deterrent against such incidents," he told reporters. .
The place of worship was found vandalized by a visitor in a village in Dharmari area on Saturday night, sparking tension and protests.
The police registered an FIR under relevant sections of the law and formed a special investigation team headed by a deputy superintendent of police to identify and arrest the culprits.
While 12 people were detained as of Sunday, three more suspects were detained on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The total number of people detained for questioning in the case stands at 15, a police officer said.
He said the SIT is working on various leads to solve the case and requesting people to maintain law and order.
In response to a bandh call by a local group, a lockdown was observed in Reasi town and adjoining areas on Monday with groups of youths burning tires on different roads.
A large number of agitated people also gathered at the city's Zanana Park and marched towards the nearby Thapa Chowk, demanding stern action against the culprits.
Officials said police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the sensitive areas as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order.
Reasi Vishesh Deputy Commissioner Paul Mahajan visited the protest site and tried to pacify the protesters, assuring that stern action would be taken against the culprits.
"Whoever tries to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere will not be spared. It is an attempt to create obstacles and sabotage developmental activities as well as communal harmony.
"This is my assurance... We will not tolerate any attempt to harm peace in the district," the deputy commissioner had said.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Mohita Sharma, reiterated her appeal to the people to maintain calm and communal harmony, assuring that the police were committed to cracking the case and tracing the culprits at the earliest.
"Those involved in the case will be booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), while the district administration has decided to prepare a list of all temples for installation of CCTV cameras to serve as a deterrent against such incidents," he told reporters. .
